Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Ten days ago, Deb Locke and the Sugarmomma's Maple Farm family were breathing a [short] sigh of relief after a busy Open House Weekend.

Saturday and Sunday, Deb worked in the sugar house (a.k.a. the Maple Day Spa, because of the steam sauna effect coming off of the evaporator). She boiled sap, as she had been doing for weeks already, all the while teaching visitors how maple syrup is made, from tree to table. She typically shared a bit of maple history, demonstrated how she stokes the fire with pine logs (to keep it burning hot and fast) and keeps an eye on the temperature so the results are just right, and answered all manner of questions from visitors.

Meanwhile, husband Ron worked primarily in the kitchen, making and serving delicious pancake breakfasts (and maple soft-serve ice cream) along with chef Ricky and helpers Davyanne, Ashley, and Vicki. Sons Nick, Wyatt, and Caleb introduced visitors to various critters on the farm, including pigs, turkeys, chickens, and quail--plus the new hatchlings and the visiting baby goats!

Pam offered visitors "syrup tastings", describing the different grades of syrup so people could decide exactly which grade of syrup to take home. (In case you weren't there, the grade reflects color and flavor--not quality!--and is related to the sugar content of the sap that went into that batch. More on this later.) Joe sold all kinds of delicious homemade maple goodies from the store, including maple sugar candy, maple popcorn, maple cotton candy, spreadable maple cream, powdered maple sugar, four kinds of maple-coated nuts, and Sugarmomma's very special maple hot sauce. Ruthie and Vicki were the real troupers of the weekend, though, because they made bag after bag of maple cotton candy for the masses--and got covered in sticky bits of maple fluff!

Numerous other friends and family pitched in to direct traffic, move tables, clear trash, and offer various other support over the weekend, and we couldn't have done it without their help. THANK YOU to everyone who made this special annual event possible!

And "everyone" includes all of the visitors who came out to see the sugar house in action, learn how the Locke family is growing much of our own food, and support our farm. Without the support of our community, this business would not be viable. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and come see us again soon!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Want to learn the art, science, and history of maple syrup production in a working sugar house? Come to the 2011 Annual Open House Weekend at Sugarmomma's Maple Farm, March 19 and 20, from 9 am to 3 pm both days!

Your Sugarmomma is preparing for your visit now, collecting and boiling sap, then bottling her delicious maple syrup—made with love in Northwood, NH.

All weekend, you are invited to

Meet the Lockes, the family behind Sugarmomma's award-winning maple syrup.

Enjoy a pancake breakfast featuring buttermilk pancakes, sausage, bacon, and delicious maple syrup produced just a few feet away!

Admission to the 2011 Annual Open House Weekend at Sugarmomma's Maple Farm is FREE; on-street parking. Sugarmomma's Maple Farm is easy to find at 213 Ridge Rd., Northwood, NH (just off of Routes 4/9/202, midway between Concord and Portsmouth). Call 603-942-7005 for more information.

PLEASE NOTE: Sugarmomma's Maple Farm does not accept credit cards. If you wish to purchase products, please bring cash or a check! Thanks for your understanding.

Product InfoMany local food producers, chefs, and gourmands seek out Sugarmomma's maple syrup, available in four grades and four sizes. It also is a featured ingredient in the signature products from Sugarmomma's Maple Farm: maple sugar candy, maple popcorn, maple soft-serve ice cream (a must-have at summer farmers' markets!), maple cotton candy, spreadable maple cream, powdered maple sugar, maple-chipotle pepper spice blend, maple-coated nuts, and maple hot sauce. What's more, these unique and delicious local products are made by hand in Deb's kitchen!

Sugarmomma's products are available year round at Seacoast farmers' markets and craft fairs, at select retailers, at the farm (please call 603-942-7005 or email us to set up an appointment), and by mail (call 603-942-7005 or email us to order).

Thursday, March 10, 2011

For the past few weeks at Sugarmomma's Maple Farm in Northwood, NH, the Locke family has been busy with their usual late-winter chores. Debra (Sugarmomma), husband Ron, twin 15-year-old sons Nicholas and Wyatt, and 12-year-old Caleb have been hiking into the woods to tap maple trees and collect sap. Then Deb stokes the wood fire in the sugar house to boil that watery liquid until it is transformed into the thick, sweet, and flavorful regional product that people love to pour over pancakes and more: maple syrup.

Maple sugaring is hard work, and the weather during sugar season sometimes makes it downright difficult. Deb chuckles while talking about one day last month when she was out checking taps and her snowshoes sunk 12 inches into the deep, cold snow. "I was laying on my back in the woods with my snowshoes on, making snow angels!"

But frankly, Deb wouldn't have it any other way, because she is passionate about this 12-year hobby that has become her family's livelihood. "My syrup is made with love," she likes to say. And she knows that the sugar house fires that burn long into the night during this season will create the award-winning maple syrup that Sugarmomma's Maple Farm has become known for in New England and beyond.

Many local food producers, chefs, and gourmands seek out Sugarmomma's maple syrup, available in four grades and four sizes. It also is a featured ingredient in the signature products from Sugarmomma's Maple Farm: maple sugar candy, maple popcorn, maple soft-serve ice cream (a must-have at summer farmers' markets!), maple cotton candy, spreadable maple cream, powdered maple sugar, maple-chipotle pepper spice blend, maple-coated nuts, and maple hot sauce. What's more, these unique and delicious local products are made by hand in Deb's kitchen!

And even though March and April are the busiest time of year already for the NH maple business, Sugarmomma's Maple Farm is participating in the 2011 NH Maple Producers Open House Weekend, March 19 and 20, from 9 am to 3 pm. Come learn the art, science, and history of maple syrup production in a working sugar house! Meet the family behind Sugarmomma's award-winning maple syrup. Enjoy a pancake breakfast (with delicious syrup produced on site!) all day long. Tour tapped maple trees around the property. Say hello to heritage-breed chickens, turkeys, and quail. Purchase maple or poultry products from Chicken Nick and Quaileb!

Welcome!

Sugarmomma's Maple Farm is a family-owned maple syrup producer located in Northwood, NH (right off of Routes 4/9/202, midway between Concord and Portsmouth). We make syrup the old-fashioned way, by boiling the sap of local maple trees over a wood fire until it is thick and sweet. The work is hard, but we think the result is worth it.

The sugar house is open daily during the sugaring season (March and April) and by appointment May through February.Mail orders also are available. Please contact us by phone at (603) 942-7005 or send us an email at info@sugarmommasmaple.com.